Samedan Airport, St. Moritz, and 5 other exciting airfields

We receive a lot of private charter requests to fly into Samedan Airport at this time of year, only 5km’s from St. Moritz and therefore on the doorstep of some of the very best skiing in Europe. It’s possible for you to literally go from your private jet to your chalet in twenty minutes.

With an elevation of close to 6,000 feet, the air is thin, and this combined with ice, snow, wind, and a lack of any ILS make Samedan an airport to keep most pilots on their toes. Which lead us to think about some other airports which provide a bit of excitement as you come in to land…

Courcheval, France

The runway is very short and has a steep gradient, conditions can be very challenging, and there is a vertical cliff at the bottom of the strip. On the other hand, you can ski straight from the terminal building, and will have incredible views as you approach the airfield.

Saba Airport, Dutch Antilles

Saba, in the Caribbean, is a beautiful island and getting there is half the fun. The runway is, at 400m, reputedly one of the shortest commercial strips in the world. On top of this there are steep hills to one side, cliffs at both ends, and the sea on the remaining side. Once you are safely down, however, it will all seem worth it as you enjoy a relaxing Caribbean break.

Madeira, Portugal

Built out over the sea, and with winds coming down off the hills behind the runway, Madeira requires a good level of concentration from pilots as they approach the airport. There is also a relatively short runway as far as larger commercial traffic is concerned, but the charm and beauty of this little island in the Atlantic ensures there are plenty wanting to visit.

Princess Juliana Airport, St Maarten

It is not so much that there is any particular difficulty in landing at this renown airport, more so how close one comes to the beach adjacent to the end of the runway which makes it such fun. Aircraft regularly come and go, and immediately prior to touchdown can be as little as 50 feet above the permanent crowd of plane spotters who welcome new visitors to the island. An additional Caribbean thrill, to say the least!

London City Airport

Flying in to London City is a great experience. With a short runway, pilots require special certification to land here as it requires a steeper glideslope than usual for commercial or private aircraft, given its unique location in the heart of London. On the other hand, approach and landing give some spectacular views of London’s increasingly dynamic skyline, and once on the ground, conveniently close to the centre of the city.

Fly from London City Airport to Samedan, St Moritz with Villiers from €10,760, or request pricing online to fly to or from any other destination worldwide.

Villiers by Numbers, 2014

2014 has been a busy year for us. We have been looking over our statistics and making sense of what we have learnt, and thought you might be interested in seeing some of our conclusions:

The UK is the departure point in 31% of our enquiries, with London alone taking care of 21%. In terms of other markets, the US as a whole accounts for 17%, with New York, Miami and Los Angeles being the three principal departure points we have seen within the US. Others of note are Dubai, in 9% of our enquiries, Spain 4.2% and Nice with 3%.

The UK is the destination of choice in 17% of enquiries, again with London alone being the named destination in 5% of cases. The US accounts for 16%, Paris is the place to be for 5%, India 4% and Dubai and Nice 2%.

As is plain to see, chartering a private jet to or from London and the wider UK continues to be one of our core markets. The US, as one might expect given it is the largest market globally in terms of private aviation, is an important market for us, and the Middle East, particularly Dubai also features prominently.

We are expecting that this will remain the case into 2015, with Europe as a whole, the US, and the Middle East featuring heavily, however we also expect to see a stronger market emerge in Brazil and Malaysia, amongst others, as demand in these countries continues to grow steadily.

5 Top Winter Christmas Destinations

If you’re short on ideas as to where to spend your Christmas this year, we thought we’d give you some inspiration and list our top 5 favourite cities in which to enjoy a winter break.

5. Prague

With its narrow medieval alleyways, and snow covered town squares filled with market stalls selling traditional handcraft wares, Prague offers plenty for those of you seeking a traditional Christmas experience. Traditionally spiced hams and sausages sizzle in the cold air, tempting you as you browse the shops for Christmas presents or take a walk around Wenceslas Square, named after Saint Wenceslas of Christmas carol fame, Duke of Bohemia in the tenth century.

4. New York City

From the world class shopping to ice skating around the famous Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Centre, from romantic walks through a snow laden Central Park to taking in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, New York has something for everybody at Christmas time. Immortalised in numerous films, nothing comes close to experiencing the real thing first hand.

3. Vienna

Spend Christmas in Vienna and you will soon discover that for the Viennese, this is a very special time of year. Christmas markets magically spring up in the city’s most picturesque squares, the warming aromas of glühwein and freshly baked Christmas treats spiced with nutmeg and ginger hang in the air, and the sound of carols and festive music drift across the city from the many carol services and live music on Riesenradplatz. You’ll want to come back next year.

2. Bruges

Bruges comes alive at this time of year, with a wonderful Christmas market on Bruges Market Square adorned with festivities and Christmas lights. Undoubtedly, Bruges is one of Europe’s most beautiful cities, with cobbled pedestrianized streets, snowy canals, and grand squares, all framed by wonderfully preserved medieval architecture. The city is also a chocolate lovers dream – with countless shops selling delicious Belgian chocolates and pralines. Don’t miss it!

1. Copenhagen

For a truly fairytale Christmas, you will be hard pressed to beat Copenhagen. Take shelter in a snug bar or local pub and watch the snow gusting outside; go for a walk down beautiful Nyhavn, with its charming brightly coloured townhouses and shops, or head to the magical Tivoli Gardens for a warming glass off glug (local mulled wine) and a romantic evening at the Christmas fair. We can’t recommend it enough.

And not forgetting…

London

How could we possibly compile a list of top Christmas destinations and not include our home town?! The chances of snow are perhaps slim, but there is so much to do over Christmas that its hard to ignore London. Ice skate at the beautiful Somerset House, treat the kids to the evening of their lives at Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, visit the giant Norweigan Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square, or sing carols at Westminster Abbey for midnight mass.

And if all of that bores you… Speak to us to arrange your private jet to one of the other Christmas heaven’s we’ve mentioned above. Happy Christmas!

In the UK autumn statement last Wednesday, Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne announced new changes to UK stamp duty levels, and introduced a levy of 12% tax on the value of property over £1,500,000. There has since been plenty of speculation this might impact on the wider appeal of London to wealth creators and business owners.

We’re confident London will never lose its appeal to the wider international business community. From London it’s possible for you to do business with the Far East in the morning, and the US that afternoon. You can jump on a private jet in London and be at a meeting in any one of Europe’s business hubs such as Frankfurt, Paris, Moscow and Zurich in a matter of hours.

The world is so accessible when you fly from London on a private jet – let us help you save time and improve your business efficiency by looking after all of your flight requirements.

Please contact us with your enquiry, and one of our London based charter team will be in touch to discuss how we can help.

Our Swiss based charter experts are on hand around the clock to find instant pricing & availability from hundreds of jet operators in St. Moritz.

5km’s from St. Moritz, Samedan is right on the doorstep of the best skiing Europe has to offer. Upon arrival, you can go from your aircraft to your chalet in less than 20 minutes. At over 1,700 meters, Samedan is the highest commercial airport in Europe.

Plan a winter break with Villiers Jets, and fly privately to Samedan by completing the pricing request to the right of this page.